Western Michigan (12-0) remains the highest-ranked member of a Group of Five conference and thus continues to have the inside track on earning a bid to the Cotton Bowl. Western Michigan will meet Ohio on Friday night in the Mid-American Conference championship game.

The College Football Playoff Committee will reward the highest-ranked Group of Five conference champion with a trip to the Cotton Bowl, being played Jan. 2 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. If Navy and Western Michigan both win this weekend, strength of schedule could become the determining factor.

The Midshipmen are ranked far higher than the Broncos in every strength of schedule indicator. Navy's opponents have a combined record of 53-48 as opposed to a 46-62 mark for Western Michigan's opponents.

All postseason matchups are scheduled to be announced on Sunday after the various conference championship games have been played. However, the College Football Playoff Committee has stated it might hold off on announcing the Group of Five selection until after the Army-Navy game on Dec. 10.

"If on Sunday the committee believes the Army-Navy result would affect Navy's selection, then we will wait," said Bill Hancock, executive director of the College Football Playoff system.